Inspirational Mitchell fires Dunshaughlin to promotion

The ultimate aim of promotion back to A FL Div 1 was secured by Dunshaughlin as they saw off Trim 1-13 to 0-13 in a hugely entertaining Div 2 semi-final at Dunsany tonight.

Dunshaughlin will now go on to face either Seneschalstown or Curraha to determine the A FL Div 2 winners, but on this evidence Richie Kealy's side very definitely have their eyes set on even bigger prizes.

Trim too can take consolation ahead of the start of the championship. Missing a number of key players they were the better side in the opening half and it was only when they conceded an unfortunate goal, that took a cruel deflection of Conor McGinley and deceived goalkeeper Paul Munnelly, in the 45th minute that their challenge started to fade.

At that stage Trim were 0-10 to 0-6 ahead and were full value for their advantage with Tom Carmody and Ciaran Caulfield outstanding, but then Dunshaughlin switched into another gear.

The goal from the impressive Luke Mitchell gave them the spark they needed to light the way to victory as they outscored Trim by 0-7 to 0-2 in the final 13 minutes.

Doomsayers that wallow in the negativity that football is dead might have had their minds changed as this game ripped along at a right pace and produced many passages of outstanding football and several brilliant scores.

Trim opened the scoring in the second minute when Tadhg Carty plucked the ball from the sky to claim a mark (the real reason the mark was introduced, to reward high fielding) and he converted, but Dunshaughlin were always threatening.

Good work by Kinsella earned a free which Mitchell converted in the seventh minute to open his side's account and 30 seconds later Dunshaughlin turned over the Trim kickout and almost bagged a goal as Mathew Costello blasted over.

Mitchell and Charlie O'Connor were involved as Conor Gray made it 0-3 to 0-1 and Trim looked in trouble.

However a moment of magnificence from Ciaran Caulfield saw him win the next kickout, tear down the sideline and then clip over a magnificent point. James Murray had half a sniff at a goal, but his effort from a difficult angle was cleared off the line by Costello and in the 14th minute Mitchell made it 0-4 to 0-2 with another superb score.

Trim's response was emphatic. Carmody launched a massive point from the right then followed that with a simple free after Eoin Sweeney was fouled to restore parity.

Great work from Kyle Ennis and Carmody set up Caulfield for his second and Trim were 0-5 to 0-4 ahead in the 21st minute.

Costello levelled it up again with a free, but Trim replied with the next two scores from a Carmody free and point from Caulfield after great work by Ennis.

Dunshaughlin wasted a great goal chance on the stroke of half-time as Costello picked out Mitchell with a brilliant pass, but the number 10 blazed wide to ensure Trim led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Trim extended that lead with the first two scores after the resumption, both frees from Carmody.

Dunshaughlin replied with a sweeping move that resulted in a score for Mitchell from a goal chance, but Richie Kealy's men were moving the ball well and causing problems.

Sweeney was denied by a fine save from Adam McDermott, but in the 41st minute Carmody converted from play after Trim had lost a decent free opportunity because of dissent.

Then came the turning point - Mitchell's goal. Conor Gray provided the excellent assist, but there was a huge slice of luck as the ball deflected to the net and left the Trim 'keeper stranded.

Trim replied with a point from the excellent Conor Quigley, but Dunshaughlin hit six of the next seven points to establish control.

Aaron Murphy pointed with his first touch before Costello made it 1-8 to 0-11 in the 49th minute.

Carmody edged Trim ahead again with another free, but again Mitchell pounced on a defensive error to restore parity for the fifth time.

James Murray thought he had restored Trim's lead with a booming effort but as one umpire waved the white flag, the other signalled wide and the referee went with the official who waved wide - there weren't many complaints.

From that miss Dunshaughlin kicked on. They turned parity into a three point lead with scores from Mitchell, Costello (free) and Neil Byrne.

Conor Quigley gave Trim hope with a superb score in the 59th minute, but there was no way back as a wonder score from Conor Duke sealed the win, promotion and a place in the A FL Div 2 final for Dunshaughlin.

Dunshaughlin - Adam McDermott; Jack Hetherington, Alastar Doyle, Jared Rushe; Niall Byrne, Tadhg O Dushlaine, Ciaran McCarrick; Conor Gray (0-1), Adam Kealy; Luke Mitchell (1-5 one free), Charlie O'Connor, Fursey Blake; Tommy Kinsella, Mathew Costello (0-4 two frees), Conor Duke (0-1). Subs - Neil Byrne (0-1) for O'Connor 29m, Ben Duggan for O Dushlaine half-time, Aaron Murphy (0-1) for Kinsella 46m.

Trim - Paul Munnelly; Conor McGinley, Brian Bolger, Cian Downes; David Murtagh, Declan Dowling, Eoin Sweeney; Darragh Heffernan, Rob Bourke; Conor Quigley (0-2), James Murray, Ciaran Caulfield (0-3); Kyle Ennis, Tadhg Carty (0-1 mark), Tom Carmody (0-7 five frees). Subs - Eoghan Ryan for Downes half-time, Ian Byrne for Murtagh 41m, Ben Holden for Ryan 49m.

Referee - Ciaran Flynn (Dunsany).